by Dennis Harter, MS Principal
dennish@isb.ac.th
As we welcome our students to the new school year, it’s a nice time to also welcome our new faculty and staff that join our Middle School this year. Some are new to Bangkok, others are new only to ISB, and even still, others have been at ISB, but are new to our Middle School. Please welcome our new faculty and staff.
Jeff Adair
Jeff joins us after teaching at Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania, USA, a boarding school he attended when he was a child (he was also an international student for many years). Prior to that Jeff taught in Oman. Jeff is teaching Social Studies in grades 6 & 7.
Shafiq Aweida
Shay comes to ISB from Costa Rica where he taught high school math. Originally from Boulder, Colorado, USA, Shay enjoys the outdoors and sports. He will be coaching JV girls soccer right away in first season. Shay is teaching math.
Charlie Durbin
Charlie is a familiar face at ISB as he coached and substitute taught all last year throughout the school. Charlie, originally from London, England, previously taught at Dulwich College in Beijing, China. Charlie is teaching PE.
Melinda Kehe
Melinda joins ISB after over a decade at the American Embassy School in New Delhi. Melinda was born in Zimbabwe and has worked at several international schools in her career. Melinda is the middle school librarian.
Ziyan Wang
Ziyan joins ISB’s World Language department from another school in Bangkok. Originally from Xi’an, China, Ziyan trained as a teacher in Hong Kong and will be teaching Native Mandarin in both the middle and high schools.
Kerry Dyke
Kerry returns to ISB after two years away. In that time, Kerry trained as a safari tracker and continued his work in outdoor education as a trip leader and planner. Kerry also started a family in that time away. Kerry is passionate about the environment and continues to inspire others to do their part in protecting our planet. Kerry is teaching PE.
Braden Betts
Braden returns to ISB, having been a student here from grades 4 to 7, a child of former ISB teachers. Now after years of working for the student trip organization, Rustic Pathways, Braden is becoming a teacher himself. Braden will be working closely with our PE Department as a student teacher and will be supporting teachers as they work with our students.
Kara Ekstran
Kara joins the Middle School from ISB’s Elementary School, where she was a grade 5 teacher. Originally from Oregon, USA, Kara loves literacy and growing readers and writers. Kara is teaching grade 6 English.
Lisa Foran
Lisa joins the Middle School from ISB’s High School, where she continues to teach grade 10 English. Before ISB Lisa taught at a prestigious private school in Canada, where she is from. Lisa is teaching grade 6 English.
Tsira Gabelia
Tsira rejoins the middle school after teaching high school math last year at ISB. From Georgia, Tsira has been in Bangkok for several years. Tsira continues to teach one high school class, while also teaching grade 8 math in the middle school.
Wendy Herbert
Wendy joins the Middle School from ISB’s High School, where she continues to teach science. Wendy is teaching grade 6 Science.
Basil Tahan
Basil has been the high school Photography teacher for many years and this year he will offer a photo class in the middle school as well.
Please also join us in welcoming Khun Arintra to the middle school office, where she will serve as our PowerSchool Coordinator and Khun Awiruth who will be working in Student Services as an Instructional Aide, supporting students.
Welcome to all of our new staff members!